Svechnikov scores in OT as Hurricanes beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 3 of East final

MONTREAL (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov scored at 14:06 of overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final.

Shayne Gostisbehere and Taylor Hall scored in regulation for Carolina. Frederik Andersen made 11 saves.

Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson scored for Montreal, which got 35 stops from Jakub Dobes.

The best-of-seven series returns to the Bell Centre for Game 4 on Wednesday.

Andrei Svechnikov fired a shot through a crowd after a back-and-forth with Seth Jarivs for the winning tally.

After picking up a 3-2 extra-time victory at home Saturday that looked a lot more like their relentless style following a discombobulated 6-2 loss in Thursday’s opener, the Hurricanes came out flying and took the lead at 8:24 of the first period when the puck popped into the slot for Gostisbehere to fire in off the left post past a diving Dobes.

The Canadiens, who topped the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in a pair of seven-game matchups to make the conference final despite a combined 2-4 record at home, tied it at 15:28.

Carolina, the East’s top seed coming off sweeps of the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, pushed back less than minute later when Hall shoveled home his own rebound from in tight past Dobes as the winger was falling to the ice at 16:22.

Montreal, which registered just 12 shots in Game 2, evened things up on a power play at 4:43 of the second period.

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Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) stops Montreal Canadiens' Jayden Struble (47) as Hurricanes' Alexander Nikishin (21) defends during the second period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Monday, May 25, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes smothers the puck just outside the net following a shot by Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho during the third period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Montreal, Monday, May 25, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson (48) celebrates after his goal with teammates Nick Suzuki (14), Juraj Slafkovsky (20) and Ivan Demidov (93) during the second period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Montreal, Monday, May 25, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) celebrates after his goal with teammates Mark Jankowski (77) and Eric Robinson (50) during the first period of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Monday, May 25, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates with teammates Jaccob Slavin (74), Jalen Chatfield (5) and Jordan Martinook (48) after a goal by teammate Sebastian Aho (not shown) during overtime of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Monday, May 25, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Houston Astros have pitched several combined no-hitters — even one in the World Series. This latest gem, however, might have been the biggest surprise of all.

Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai threw six hitless innings after walking three of the first four batters he faced Monday night. Steven Okert then got three outs before Alimber Santa made his major league debut and retired the final six hitters to complete the Astros' 17th regular-season no-hitter — four of them combined efforts — in a 9-0 win over the Texas Rangers.

“The first inning, you never thought that this was going to be the outcome of the game,” manager Joe Espada said. “Imai, he continued to compete. ... He continued to pound the zone, he fought through it. Six strong innings, and then the rest is history."

It was the first no-hitter in the major leagues since Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers combined for a 12-0 win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 2024. No pitcher has tossed a complete-game no-hitter since Blake Snell for the San Francisco Giants against Cincinnati on Aug. 2, 2024.

The 23-year-old Santa fired two perfect innings to finish it and became the first pitcher since 1900 to play any role in a no-hitter during his big league debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“Yeah, there was some adrenaline,” Santa said through a translator. “I was aware of the no-hitter, but I was just trying to calm myself down from the bullpen.”

Ronel Blanco tossed the previous no-hitter for the Astros in a 10-0 victory over Toronto on April 1, 2024, which also marked Espada’s first win as manager. In fact, Houston has authored three of the past seven and five of the last 11 major league no-hitters — beginning with one in the 2022 World Series when four pitchers combined against Philadelphia.

Okert worked the seventh after Imai got 16 outs over the last 16 batters he faced. He benefited from a double play in the first, then settled into a groove after issuing his third walk.

“During pregame, our focus was attacking the zone,” Imai said through a translator. “But in the first inning, I felt unbalanced, the timing was off. But after that inning, I was able to adjust the timing, all the rhythm and stuff.”

Santa entered in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced. His 24th pitch was a called third strike against Brandon Nimmo to end it for his first big league strikeout. That was confirmed after an ABS challenge by Nimmo of the final pitch.

“I wasn't sure,” Santa said, but catcher Christian Vázquez was already on the mound telling him, “Hey stud, that's a strike.”

The Rangers were held without a hit for the sixth time, the first since Corey Kluber threw a no-hitter against them for the New York Yankees on May 19, 2021.

Imai’s fourth walk of the night was to Nimmo leading off the fourth inning, but Ezequiel Duran then grounded into a double play.

Imai (2-2) threw 57 of his 97 pitches for strikes. He struck out two.

The 28-year-old Imai, who said his only previous no-hitter came in middle school, is in his first big league season after coming over from Japan. He was 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA in his first five starts for Houston.

Imai joined the Astros in January after agreeing to a $54 million, three-year contract. He was a three-time All-Star during eight seasons in Japan, and went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA last season for the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions, striking out 178 in 163 2/3 innings.

Rangers leadoff hitter Joc Pederson was retired on a nifty play in the third when shortstop Jeremy Peña made a backhand stop and a twisting throw to first for the out. Justin Foscue and Danny Jansen had deep flyouts into the left-center gap in the Texas fifth.

Okert walked Nimmo leading off the seventh before retiring the next three batters.

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Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa, right, is doused with water after pitching in his major league debut and closing a combined no-hitter by his team against the Texas Rangers during a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa kisses the ball after he helped his team earn a combined no-hitter during his major league debut in a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa gestures after pitching in his major league debut and closing a combined no-hitter by his team against the Texas Rangers during a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai, center, celebrates with teammates, including pitcher Alimber Santa (72) and catcher Christian V·zquez, right, after the team combined for a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers during a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa, left, reacts with catcher Christian Vázquez after completing their team's combine no-hitter win over the Texas Rangers during a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai walks in the dugout after pitching to the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)